«Will Hurd (TX-23) Research Report The following report contains research on Will Hurd, a Republican member of Congress in Texas’ 23rd district. ...»

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Compared his Campaign to Hannibal Crossing the Alps. In February 2010, Hurd said that is career in the CIA taught him the value of being underestimated. “Our campaign is Hannibal, and we’re coming over the Pyrenees and the Alps, and people don’t know we have elephants with us,” Hurd said. [Texas Tribune, 2/16/10] Had $70,000 on Hand in February 2010 Had $70,000 on Hand in February 2010. In February 2010, the Texas Tribune reported that Hurd had about $70,000 on hand compared to Republican frontrunner Quico Canseco’s $90,000. [Texas Tribune, 2/16/10] Raised $152,000 by March 2010 Raised $152,000 by March 2010. In March 2010, the San Antonio Express-News reported that Hurd had raised $152,000, with significant support from Texas A&M alums including Republican state Senator Jeff Wentworth, who donated $1,000 to Hurd’s campaign. [San Antonio Express-News, 3/1/10] February 2010: Endorsed In Republican Primary San Antonio Express-News February 2010: Endorsed In Republican Primary By San Antonio Express-News. In February 2010, Hurd secured the endorsement of the San Antonio Express-News editorial board for the Republican primary in CD 23. [San Antonio Express-News 2/22/10] Received Significant Support from Texas A&M Community Received Significant Support from Texas A&M Community. In March 2010, the San Antonio Express-News published a piece highlighting the support of the Texas A&M “Aggie” community for Hurd’s campaign.

“I’d go out to Alpine thinking I was going to meet with one person and I’d show up at that person’s house or a coffee shop, and there’d be 15 or 20 people, and they were all Aggies. It’s just ballooned from there,” Hurd said. [San Antonio Express-News, 3/17/10] March 2010: Received 34 Percent of Votes in the CD-23 Republican Primary March 2010: Received 34 Percent of Votes in the CD-23 Republican Primary. In March 2010, Hurd received 34 percent of the vote in the Republican primary for Texas’ 23rd congressional district. Of the four other Republicans in the race, Quico Canseco received the most votes with 32 percent, sending the race to a runoff. [Dallas Morning News, 3/03/10] “Tonight we’ve shown we’re for real,” Hurd said, adding that the results showed that his campaign had achieved “resource parity” with Canseco. [San Antonio Express-News, 3/03/10] Expressed Optimism About Primary Runoff In March 2010, Hurd was optimistic about his chances in the Republican primary, saying that the number of votes he received showed that race wouldn’t be a factor. “We’ve got momentum on our side, and we are going to do a lot more,” Hurd said. “This whole nonsense that it takes a Hispanic, we are disproving that notion with every vote.” [San Antonio Express-News, 3/13/10]

April 2010: Lost Runoff to Quico Canseco

April 2010: Lost Runoff to Quico Canseco. In April 2010, despite receiving the most votes in the March Republican primary, Hurd lost the GOP nomination for CD-23 in a runoff to Francisco “Quico” Canseco.

Hurd received 47 percent of the vote to Canseco’s 53. [Houston Chronicle, 4/14/10] Declined to Concede the Race On Election Night. In 2010, Hurd declined to concede the primary to Canseco on election night. “Will’s proud of the support he’s gotten and is looking forward to November, which will send a message to Washington that we need a new generation of leaders to get us back on track,” said Barry Hammond, Hurd’s communications director. [San Antonio Express-News, 4/14/10]

Received the Endorsements of Local Republican Leaders

Received the Endorsements of Local Republican Leaders. In March 2010, Hurd received the endorsements of former County Commissioner Lyle Larson and Robert “Doc” Lowry, one of Hurd’s primary competitors. Hurd said that he was “honored that they believe I’m the guy who can win this and beat Ciro Rodriguez.” [San Antonio Express-News, 3/06/10] Disagreed with Lowry on Dismantling the USA Patriot Act. In March 2010, Quico Canseco’s campaign manager said that Canseco didn’t win Lowry’s endorsement because he wasn’t willing to commit to dismantling the Patriot Act. He accused Hurd of changing his position in order to get the endorsement. Hurd said that he disagreed with Lowry on that issue and that he did not change any positions to win the endorsement. [Texas Roll Call, 3/09/10] Planned to Attack Ciro Rodriguez for Voting for the Affordable Care Act Planned to Attack Ciro Rodriguez for Voting for the Affordable Care Act. In March 2010, Hurd said that he would attack Democratic Rep. Ciro Rodriguez for his vote on the ACA regardless of what procedural measures were used. “The bottom line is that constituents know Rodriguez supports the bill regardless of whatever parliamentary procedure the use to obfuscate the issue,” Hurd’s spokesman said.

[Investor’s Business Daily, 3/18/10] Said that His Family’s Working Class Background Gave Him “Real” Small Business Experience Said that His Family’s Working Class Background Gave Him “Real” Small Business Experience. In April 2010, Hurd said that he had “real” small business experience from his family’s working-class background. “I know what it’s like to live from day to dat. And what real small businesses are having to deal with,” Hurd said. [Texas Tribune, 4/02/10]

Claimed to Have Support from National Republicans

Claimed to Have Support from National Republicans. In April 2010, Hurd said that he wasn’t concerned about getting support from Republicans on the national level. “When we show them we’re going to win this thing, I’m sure we’ll get some support,” Hurd said, adding that his campaign would soon “pull some names out that will really shock [observers] […] national, highly recognized, very senior former folks in the party on the state level and the national level.” [Texas Tribune, 4/02/10]

Changed His Position on Term Limits

Changed His Position on Term Limits. In 2010, Hurd approached the fourth-place finisher in the primary, Mike Kueber, for an endorsement in the runoff. Kueber agreed on the condition that Hurd support the idea of term limits, which he declined to do. Kueber endorsed Canseco, and a week before the runoff, Hurd came out in favor of term limits on the “Joe ‘Pags’ (radio) show.” [San Antonio ExpressNews, 3/12/14] Toeing the Party Line

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 As of March 2016, Hurd had voted with his party 96 percent of the time  PolitiFact rated Pete Gallego’s claim that Hurd “tends to have a 96 percent straight Republican” voting record as “True”  Defended House Majority Whip Steve Scalise against criticism for addressing a white supremacist group in 2002, though he was ambivalent as to whether Scalise should retain his leadership post  Scalise’s leadership PAC had contributed $2,500 to Hurd’s campaign in October 201,4 and his PAC and campaign have given Hurd another $11,499 since Hurd’s defense of Scalise  Said impeachment of President Obama should be considered and supported congressional lawsuit against him  Dick Cheney and Cathy McMorris Rodgers attended campaign events for Hurd and he was endorsed by former Ambassador John Bolton Hurd has consistently toed the Republican Party line in Congress, voting with his own party 96 percent of the time as of the beginning of December 2015. In November 2015, PolitiFact certified former Rep. Pete Gallego’s claim that Hurd voted with his party 96 percent of the time as “true.” In January 2015, Hurd defended House Majority Whip Steve Scalise over criticism for addressing a white supremacist group in 2002, though he maintained his neutrality on the question of Scalise retaining his post. Scalise’s leadership PAC had contributed $2,500 to Hurd’s campaign in October 2014. Hurd has also gone along with his party’s leadership in supporting a lawsuit against President Obama and saying that impeachment proceedings should be considered. During his 2014 campaign, Hurd was endorsed by former Ambassador John Bolton, and both Dick Cheney and Cathy McMorris Rodgers attended his campaign events.

CQ VoteWatch: Hurd Voted With His Party 96 Percent Of The Time CQ Votewatch: Hurd Voted With His Party 96 Percent Of The Time. As Of April 15, 2016, Hurd had voted with his own party on 96 percent votes, 486 of 508 possible votes. [CQ Votewatch, accessed 4/15/16] PolitiFact Rated Gallego’s Claim That Hurd “Tends To Have A 96 Percent Straight Republican” Voting Record As “True.” “Pete Gallego said Will Hurd ‘tends to have a 96 percent straight Republican, straight party voting record.’ At the time of the statement, Pete Gallego’s claim and the percentage were consistent with Hurd’s voting record. We rate this claim True. TRUE – The statement is accurate and there’s nothing significant missing” [PolitiFact, 11/15/15] Defended Steve Scalise, Whose Leadership PAC Contributed To His Campaign, Against Criticism For Scalise’s Addressing A White Supremacist Organization In 2002 Defended Steve Scalise For Speaking To David Duke-Affiliated Group. “Hurd, the first black Texas Republican in Congress, also defended Boehner’s No. 3 in command, Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who has been under fire over reports that he spoke in 2002 to a group in Louisiana that was affiliated with white supremacist David Duke. ‘It was a grave mistake for him to go and speak to that group,’ Hurd told the Chronicle. ‘He’s even said that; he’s apologized and said it was a bad thing to do.’” [Houston Chronicle, 1/07/15] … But Was Ambivalent As To Whether Scalise Should Stay In The House GOP Leadership.

“As for whether Scalise should stay in the House GOP leadership, Hurd was ambivalent. ‘It’s something I don’t have an opinion on right now, because I’ve got my plate full with stuff people sent me here to do,’ he said. ‘However that plays out is how it’s going to play out.’” [Houston Chronicle, 1/07/15] Scalise’s The Eye of The Tiger Political Action Committee Gave $2,500 To Hurd’s Campaign in October 2014. On October 17th, 2014, Scalise’s Eye of The Tiger PAC gave $2,500 to Hurd for Congress. [FEC.gov, accessed 12/11/15] Scalise’s Congressional Campaign And Leadership PAC Contributed A Total Of $11,499 To Hurd For Congress From March Through September Of 2015

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Said Impeachment of President Obama Should Be Considered Said Impeachment of President Obama Should Be Considered. “Impeachment is a violation of a law, right, you know? And I think that if the President uses his pen, you know, to change a law then I think that’s something that should be considered.” [KTSA 550, 7/29/14] Supported Lawsuit Against President Obama Supported Lawsuit Against President Obama. In 2014, Hurd supported House Republican efforts to sue the president. “I definitely support a lawsuit against the President… something needs to be done, and I think a lawsuit is a valuable option,” Hurd said. [KTSA 550, 7/29/14] Repeated GOP Talking Point On Appointment Of Scalia Successor Which Had Been Designated “Mostly False” By PolitiFact Claimed In Rambling Answer To Interviewer That It Had Been 80 Years Since A President Made A Supreme Court Nomination In His Final Year. In February 2016, during an interview on the National Border Patrol Council’s Greenline Podcast, Hurd was asked by host Shawn Moran for his thoughts on whether a President in his last yeah or final half of his term should be making a nomination to any court and whether the debate over the issue was just based on partisanship. MORAN: How are members of Congress viewing this debate, over whether or not a President in his last year, or the final half of his term, should be making a nomination to any court. Is this just viewed as partisan silliness, or is this actually something that both parties view as a real issue? HURD: I think both parties see it as a real issue, and I think both parties can accuse the other of partisanship. The realities are this – the president can nominate someone and the Senate doesn’t have to hear it. That’s the separation of powers and I think that is the clear stance Mitch McConnell – you know, I think he has that ability. We’ll see what happens in this presidential election. And look, there’s 80 years of precedent of a president not making a Supreme Court nomination in the last year of office. Some folks bring it up and I think it may have been Clarence Thomas, but he was nominated way before the last year of the Bush years, but it was just the actual hearing was in the final year. That’s not an example or deviation of that 80 year history.” [National Border Patrol Council’s Greenline Podcast, 61:41, 2/18/16] Marco Rubio Given “Mostly False” Rating For Saying It Has Been 80 Years Since “Lame Duck” Made Supreme Court Nomination. “Rubio’s statement prompted several comments on Twitter from those who noted a specific exception to his claim: the nomination of Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Senate confirmed Kennedy 97-0 on Feb. 4, 1988. That was about 28 years ago — not 80.” [PolitiFact, 2/14/16] Was Unable To Provide Coherent Response To Question On The Impact Of Scalia’s Death On Rulings On Executive Actions, Potential For Court Deadlock Was Unable To Provide Coherent Response To Question On The Impact Of Scalia’s Death On Rulings On Executive Actions, Potential For Court Deadlock. In February 2016, during an interview on the National Border Patrol Council’s Greenline Podcast, Hurd was asked by host Shawn Moran for his thoughts on the impact of Justice Scalia’s death on the court and potential for deadlock on decisions regarding the President’s executive actions. MORAN: Congressman, you mention the President’s executive actions and with the recent passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, how do you think that potential deadlock on the Supreme Court is going to impact the decisions, the cases that are going to be going before the Supreme Court in the future, what kind of outcome- HURD: It’s a great question. A lot of the major decisions over the last couple of years have been 5-4. I’m not a judicial scholar and what happens when there’s deadlock. I think this president will attempt to make a nomination, but I don’t think the Senate will let that nominee ever come to a vote. Mitch McConnell has been pretty firm on that over the last couple of days. The impact of that on the presidential election this year, it’s already seen and shown.

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